GCVWR question

IDoMyOwnStunts wrote:

IDoMyOwnStunts wrote:
To answer your last question first, as long as you aren't exceeding federal weight limits of 500 lbs per inch of tire, 20000 lbs per axle, or 34000 lbs per tandem axle, they don't care about your RV. They are interested in commercial traffic.

As far as your first question, you really would need to weigh the combination. If you are loaded, ready to camp, and under the payload, GVWR, and GCVWR of your Expedition plus under your trailer's GVWR, you are within ratings. If not, you'll have to decide whether you, as someone on here put it, believe in the ratings or not. The actual weights are what counts.

A word of caution: I tried to make something like what you are doing work with my F150. My trailer has a GVW of 10k, but being a toy hauler, had a lot of cargo capacity. Without toys, I was under my vehicle's tow rating of 9200 lbs. But I was never comfortable towing it, even after upgrading the suspension, receiver, weight distribution bars, and tires. When I finally weighed it and found it to be 1600 lbs on the tongue, that was an eye opener (dry tongue weight was 987). If I had instead invested that money in a new tow vehicle, I would have been far better off. Eventually I did. So if you are looking at a tow vehicle for your trailer and haven't bought it yet, I would advise you to consider something more robust.

I'm not trying to be the weight police here. But if I could help somebody else not go through what I did, then I will. Good luck!

Thanks


The Expedition is a commercial vehicle as in owned by a company. I'm just not sure if the 10,001 lb rule applies if I'm pulling an RV and not working. If required I need to have company name and USDOT numbers on the door, DOT registration, log book, inspection, medical card, etc. I have none of this.

As I can get these things I was wondering if DOT will go by actual weight vs GCVWR of the vehicle or by GVWR of trailer + GVWR of Truck which is over the GCVWR of the Ex by 300 lbs.

I am towing the camper 1,000 miles and it will be in a park for quite some time. Possibly for years.

Not having all of the required DOT stuff I am towing it with my F250 this time. Just checking this for the time I would want to use the Ex. If the 300 lbs is an issue I'll just get another company truck to pull it if I need to.

As far as handling the camper it will. I don't plan on hauling it with a heavy load like with water in the tanks if I pull it with the Ex. I don't have a brake controller and mirrors yet but if it's not legal I'm not going to bother getting them.